Life-preserver.



Patented Aug. 6, I90I.

H. C. BRISTOL.

' LIFE PRESERVER.

(Application filed Jan. 11, 1901.)

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exact description of the same.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HOWARD C. BRISTOIQOF EAST TAWAS, MICHIGAN.

LlFE-PRESERVER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 679,721, dated August 6, 1901. Application filed January 11, 1901. Serial No. 42,940. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HOWARD O. BRISTOL, gentleman, of the city of East Tawas, in the county of Iosco and State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Life-Preservers; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and

My invention relates to life-preservers, liferafts, and similar apparatus; and the improvements consist in certain means and devices whereby I am enabled to produce a life-preserver that is simple in construction, inexpensive 'to manufacture, and strong yet lighter and possessed of greater buoyancy than the common forms of wooden life-preservers now 1n use.

A further object of my invention is to provide a system of fastenings or straps for lifebelts that enables the belt to be fastened to the body of the wearer in a very short time and Without inconvenience and retains the belt in place under all circumstances.

My invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, throughout the several views of which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the lifebelt, showing its fastenings. Fig. 2 is a view showing a modified form of shoulder-strap. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of a single block or element. Fig. 4 is a side elevation, broken away in parts, of a single block with metal buoying-tubes in place. Fig. 5 is a top view of the block shown in Fig. 4.

As is clearly shown in the drawings, the device consists of a series of buoyant blocks 1 of wood, composition, or other suitable material strung together transversely by upper and lower cords 2, that pass through holes in the blocks. A series of longitudinal holes are bored in each block. The holes 3 extend from the top of the block nearly to the lower cord. They are rendered air-tight by either coating them inside with waterproof paint, shellac, or similar mixture or else inserting closed tubes 5, of metal or other suitable material. The holes 3 are closed with plugs 4, preferably of wood or other material from which the blocks 1 are made. By this means I produce a life-belt that is very simple in construction and lighter than the ordinary wooden belt, having much greater buoying power. Owing to the inner coating of waterproof solution in each hole or the closed airtubes 5 entrance of water into the holes is practically impossible. The longer the belt is exposed to the action of water the tighter the plugs 4 will hold, since they expand by absorbing moisture.

The wearer puts on the belt by passing the middle of the loop 6 back of the neck, over the shoulders, and down in front of the shoulders and armpits. The ends of the cords 2 are then tied together, thus securely fastening the belt in place, while leaving the arms perfectly free and unimpeded.

In using the modified form of strap shown in Fig. 2 the loop 6 passes down over the head and rests on the shoulders, the straps 6 supporting the belt.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is as follows:

1. A life-preserver or similar article comprising a plurality of buoyant blocks of wood or similar material, strung together by cords to form a belt; each block having a series of parallel holes extending longitudinally nearly through said block, and rendered waterproof inside; plugs closing said holes; straps for securing the belt to the shoulders of the wearer; and cords for tying the ends of the belt together, substantially as described.

2. A block or section of a life-preserver consisting of a block of Wood rectangular in form, having a series of holes bored nearly through it, and carrying closed air-tubes, a plug for closing each hole, and transverse holes through the ends of said blocks for the passage of supporting-cords, substantially as set forth.

3. A section of a life-preserver comprising a block of wood bored lengthwise with one or more holes that extend nearly through the block, waterproof coating for the interior of each hole, a plug closing the upper end of each hole, a transverse hole extending through the block below the bottom of the longitudinal holes, and a second transverse hole extending through the block at its upper end and through the plugs, substantially as described and for the purposes set forth.

' Signed at East Tawas, Michigan, November 26,1900.

HOWARD O. BRISTOL. In presence of- IVA V. BRISTOL,

EDITH BRISTOL. 

